# MAL-2026-14275: Malicious code in minequest (npm)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `minequest` (npm)
- **Published:** 19 Aug 2026

## What is MAL-2026-14275?

MAL-2026-14275 is a malicious package in minequest, published on 19 Aug 2026. 

### Official description

package.json declares a postinstall hook running scripts/init.js, which chmod 0755's assets/thanks-amd64.elf and execFileSync's it on Linux x64 during npm install. The README states the package has 'no install hooks, no native binaries — just readable JavaScript', and scripts/build-elf.js is written to look like a fully-auditable ~250-byte hand-assembled ELF that only prints a thank-you message. The binary actually shipped in the tarball is a 33,648,788-byte Go-compiled executable (sha256 05b696…4420) containing Go runtime symbols, chacha8, and references to /proc/self/cgroup, /proc/self/mountinfo, and syscall filter strings — an artifact with no relationship to the shipped build script. The documented audit path is a cover story for an opaque native binary that executes with installer privileges on every Linux x64 npm install, with no description of its actual behavior available to the installer.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-14275?

Remove the package from your dependencies and lockfiles, then rotate any secrets on machines where it was installed.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
MAL-2026-14275 is a malicious package: minequest (npm). Every version was published to cause harm.

Task:
1. Search this repository's dependency manifests and lockfiles for the package, including transitive dependencies.
2. If it is present, remove it, regenerate the lockfile with the project's package manager, and replace whatever it was used for.
3. List any CI runners, developer machines or containers that installed it, so their secrets can be rotated.
4. If the package is not used anywhere, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-14275/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-14275/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-14275

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-14275/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.